Hourigan in no rush to replace Murphy

RACING: Michael Hourigan is in no hurry to find a replacement for the banned Timmy Murphy for Beef Or Salmon's clash with Best Mate in the Lexus Chase tommorrow week at Leoardstown.

The Limerick trainer reports that the eight-year-old is making progress after his recent disappointment at Punchestown. But he may well need a new partner for his stable star in the Grade One event as usual rider Murphy could be claimed to ride for owner David Johnson even if his seven-day ban is overturned on appeal.

"Beef Or Salmon is very well, has had no problems with his preparation and is in line for the Lexus," said Hourigan. "As for a jockey, we will wait and see what happens and who is available."

Murphy has ridden the horse in his last 13 chases stretching back two years, before which he was partnered to victory by Paul Carberry in a Grade Two event at Clonmel on his first outing over fences. The only other jockey to have won on him since then is Michael Kinane, who partnered Beef Or Salmon when he landed a Flat race at the Curragh.

Beef Or Salmon took the valuable Leopardstown prize in 2002 when it was known as the Ericcson Chase, but found Henrietta Knight's triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate too good in last year's race.

The son of Cajetano will also be trying to bounce back from a lifeless performance when a distant third to Kicking King last time, although Hourigan reported that he had missed a fortnight's work in the build-up to that race.

Colm Murphy has confirmed his stable star Brave Inca as an intended runner in Leopardstown's Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle the day after the Lexus Chase. Last season's top two-mile novice has finished runner-up on both his starts when taking on senior opposition this term, but his performances have still pleased the Wexford handler.

Murphy had warned that the six-year-old would badly need his debut run at Down Royal at the start of November when he finished just a length behind Macs Joy despite conceding 10lb.

He then ran a creditable second behind Solerina in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and he is likely to meet her again, along with reigning champion hurdler Hardy Eustace.

"He is good, I am delighted with him," said Murphy. "All being well he will go to Leopardstown at Christmas, which is turning out to be a real good race.

"In hindsight he ran a cracker at Fairyhouse, his jumping was a bit disappointing and he didn't travel well, but he stayed with Solerina over two and a half miles on soft ground. He will appreciate the better ground and he will be more forward by then, so I am hoping for a big run."

Christmas plans for Azertyuiop remain uncertain as Paul Nicholls considers whether to step his star two-miler up in distance for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day. The Somerset handler also has the current second favourite for the race in Peterborough Chase winner Le Roi Miguel, but is concerned about whether either horse will last the three-mile trip.

Azertyuiop, who was second to Moscow Flyer in a thrilling renewal of the Tingle Creek Chase earlier this month, does have the alternative of sticking to the minimum distance in the skybetvegas.com Castleford Chase at Wetherby a day later, and a decision appears likely today. "We are totally undecided about Azertyuiop regarding the trip, the ground and the jockey bookings," said Nicholls' assistant Daniel Skelton. Nicholls reports the seven-year-old to be none the worse for his exertions at Sandown and the trainer is aiming to have him spot-on for his bid for back-to-back victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March. "He is very well. He took 10 days or so to get over Exeter - it just took a bit out of him in the ground - but he bounced back straight away from the Tingle Creek," said Nicholls.

Kempton clerk of the course Brian Clifford is predicting ground on the softer side of good for the big race. Clifford walked the track yesterday morning and he reports the going to be good to soft, good in places, despite some heavy rain over the last few days.